6 AAC 25.260. Complaints regarding eligibility of a candidate

(a) Any person may question the eligibility of a candidate who has filed a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition with the director for statewide or districtwide office, by filing a complaint with the director. A complaint regarding the eligibility of a candidate must be received by the director not later than the close of business on the 10th day after the filing deadline for the office for which the candidate seeks election.

(b) The complaint must be in writing and include the name, mailing address, contact phone number, and signature of the person making the complaint, and a statement in 200 words or less of the grounds, described in particular, on which the candidate's eligibility is being questioned.

(c) The director will review only those issues in the complaint related to candidate qualifications established by the United States Constitution, the Alaska Constitution, or the Alaska Statutes. Grounds cited in the complaint other than those related to candidate qualifications established by law or grounds related to issues under the authority of the Alaska Public Offices Commission under AS 15.13 will not be considered by the director under this section.

(d) Upon receipt of a complaint, the director will review any evidence relevant to the issues identified in the complaint which is in the custody of the division including the candidate's registration record, declaration of candidacy, or nominating petition, and, in the discretion of the director, any other document of public record on file with the state. Based on the review of the public documents, the director will determine whether a preponderance of evidence supports or does not support the eligibility of the candidate.

(e) The director will send notification in writing to the candidate whose eligibility is being questioned that a complaint has been received. The notification will include a copy of the complaint, and, based on the director's review of the public documents, a statement as to whether a preponderance of evidence supports or does not support the eligibility of the candidate.

(f) If the director determines that a preponderance of evidence supports the eligibility of the candidate, the director will issue a final determination upholding the candidate's eligibility.

(g) If the director determines that a preponderance of evidence does not support the eligibility of the candidate, notice to the candidate will identify any additional information or evidence that must be provided by the candidate in support of his or her eligibility, and the date by which the requested information must be received by the director. The director will consider any additional information provided by the candidate in issuing a final determination as to the candidate's eligibility.

(h) If the information requested by the director under (g) of this section is not received from the candidate by the specified deadline, the director will issue a final determination regarding the candidate's eligibility based on the public records initially reviewed.

(i) Upon issuing a final determination as to the candidate's eligibility, the director will send notice of the determination in writing to the person making the complaint and to the candidate. The determination of the director is final.

(j) Nothing in this section limits the authority of the director to evaluate a candidate's eligibility for office.

History: Eff. 8/6/87, Register 103

Authority: AS 15.05.020

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